Tag: waterfall

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Nature Valley National Parks

It’s always great to hear about businesses that get behind national parks and help support the goals and efforts of the national park system. One business that supports national parks on a regular basis is Nature Valley and I think that they deserve a little shout out of appreciation for taking a lead in supporting the national park system.

One of the essentials that I take whenever I hike are snacks because I never know when a short hike will turn into a much longer journey as I wander national park trails. One of the snacks that can often be found in my backpack are Nature Valley granola bars.

On a recent trip to Olympic National Park, I stopped by a waterfall in the Fletcher Canyon area of Quinault Valley. As I placed my backpack down, I reached my hand inside and pulled out a snack. I decided that it would make a nice “thank you” photo in hopes of encouraging Nature Valley to continue their support of our national parks, and hopefully encourage other businesses to support them as well.

Nature Valley at waterfall in Olympic National Park

nature valley olympic national park

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Plaikni Falls Crater Lake National Park

After hiking 1.1 miles along the Plaikni Falls trail, you’re rewarded with a beautiful view of Plaikni Falls. The name “Plaikni Falls” which means “from the high country” comes from the Klamath Indian Tribes whose traditional homeland includes Crater Lake National Park and who still have strong cultural ties to this area to this day.

Plaikni Falls at Crater Lake National Park

close-up of Plaikni Falls at Crater Lake

Plaikni Falls is not fed by Crater Lake. The source water for Sand Creek is snow melt which begins at Anderson Spring just above Anderson Bluffs (7000 feet above sea level — 2134 meters) Sand Creek flows approximately a quarter of a mile before hitting a glacier carved cliff which it cascades over to create Plaikni Falls. At the base of Plaikni Falls, Sand Creek continues to cascade over rocky terrain to the south through Kerr Valley, then toward the west through The Pinnacles until it eventually flows out of Crater Lake National Park.

The base of Plaikni Falls is quite lush and filled with wildflowers:

wildflowers at Plaikni Falls in Crater Lake National Park

wildflowers along Sand Creek below Plaikni Falls

wildflowers with Plaikni Falls in the distance

It’s wonderful that there is now easy access to this previously “secret” waterfall at Crater Lake and the beautiful scenery around Plaikni Falls makes the hike out there well worth the time and effort. Here is a short video I took at the end of Plaikni Falls trail at the base of the falls:

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Upper Yosemite Falls

One of the most spectacular sights in Yosemite is Yosemite Falls which can be seen from a number of spots on the Yosemite Valley floor and makes for breath taking photos. The Yosemite Upper Falls drops 1,430 feet (440 meters), and just the Upper Falls section ranks as a top 20 waterfall in the world. There are hiking trails from the valley floor to both the top and base of Upper Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Upper Falls usually has water flow year round, but there have been occasions when it has gone dry in the past.

Upper Yosemite Falls from visitors center

Yosemite Upper Falls from valley lower falls trail

Upper Yosemite Falls from Sentinel Bridge